Building block



E. T. PUTNAM BUILDING BLOCK May 8, 1945.

Original Filed May 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l ZSnnentor [(25 T PUTNAM. M

attorneyv May 8, 1945. E. T. PUTNAM BUILDING BLOCK Original Filed May25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3rwentor Y [(45 T PUT/WM.

attorney E. T. PUTNAM BUILDING BLOCK May 8, 1945.

Original Filed May 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3nnentor [(A5 7. P0 T/VAM.

(Ittorneg Patented May 8, i945 BUILDING BLOCK Erie T. Putnam, Detroit,Micln, assignor to Libhcy-OIvens-Ford- Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Original application May 25, 1940, Serial No.

Divided and this application September 4, 1941, Serial No. 409,544

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved type of building unitadapted for use in the cons'truction of interior and exterior walls.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.337,276, filed May 25, 1940,

entitled Building blocks."-

' The building unit herein provided comprisesa composite block includinga body portion formed from a cementitious material, such as concrete,Haydite, or the like, and an ornamental facing therefor. The ornamentalfacing is preferably secured to the body portion by an interposed layerof adhesive material, such as an asphaltic mastic cement, and also bymechanical fastening means in the form of metal holders engaging boththe ornamental facing and the body portion. In constructing a wall withbuilding blocks of this invention, the blocks are adapted to be laid uin courses in substantially the same manner as cut stone, granite, orterra-cotta, being preferably anchored to a rear or'foundation wall.

Generally, it is the aim of the invention to provide a compositebuilding block of the above character embodying novel features ofconstruction and arrangement which will not only greatly enhance theornamental appearance of the block but which'will also improve itsstructural characteristics.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a building block ofthe above character having an ornamental facing including one or moresheets or plates of opaque structural glass of the same or differentcolors and with which may be associated metal moldings or facing stripswhich not only give to the block a more attractive, ilnished appearancebut also adapt it to varied uses.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a building block ofthe above character including an ornamental facing composed of two ormore sheets or plates of opaque structural glass arranged i spaced edgeto edge relation and heldin proper position with respect to one anotherby metal molding strips having cushioned engagement with the edges ofthe glass sheets or plates to prevent man-ing or injury thereto as wellas T1 permitting relative expansion and contraction vision of a buildingblock of the above character having associated therewith a metal copingmem ber of improved construction and to which a suitable fiashingmaterial may be readily and securely attached.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a buildingblock of the above character to which a metal sash or store frontconstruction I may be readily and conveniently secured without placingany load or strain upon the ornamental facing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentduring the course of the following description, when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a building block constructed inaccordance with the invention and adapted for use as a corner block;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the block takensubstantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal perspective sectional view taken substantiallyonline 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a modified type of building block;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 55 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view showing the provisionof a metalmolding or spacer strip between two sheets or plates'o'f glass;

Fig. 'l is a sectional view showing a modified type of metal edgeholder; I

Fig. 8 is a horizontal transverse sectional view of a building blockhaving ametal sash or store front construction associated therewith; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective sectional view of a building block havingassociated therewith a metal coping member.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3,there is illustrated a building block construction adapted for use, as acorner block and'comprising a body portion l5 preferably formed from acementitious material, such as concrete, Haydite, or the like. The bodyportion I5 is shown as being substantially L-shaped having a relativelywide front portion l6 and a relatively narrow end portion ll disposed atsubstantially right angles to said front portion. It will of course beappreciated that the body portion II need not necessarily be L-shapedand. further, that the end portion ll thereof can be disposed The frontand end portions l5 and II of body portion l5 are provided with theornamental fac ings l8 and I 9 respectively, while arranged at thecorner of said front and end portions, between the adjacent ornamentalfacings l8 and I9, is a metal comer bead or molding 28. Y 1 Eachomamental'facing l8 and I9 may consis of a single sheet or plate ofopaque structural glass or other desired material, but, as here shown,is made up of three spaced sheets or plates of glass 2|, 22, and 23 withwhich are alternately arranged the twometal molding or facing strips 24and 25. The glass face plates 2|, 22, and 23 arev preferably secured tothe body portion l5 by a relatively thick, substantially uniform layerof adhesive material 28, such as asphaltic mastic cement, which servesnot only to bind the glass to the body portion but also permits relativeexpansion and contractionbetween the two without danger of the-glasssheets or plates becoming broken or accidentally displaced. The layer ofmastic 28 also serves tocushion the glass sheets or plates against shockand blows thereby increasing its resistance to breakage. The metalmolding strips 24 and 25 are arranged alternately with the glass sheetsor plates and greatly enhance the attractiveness and ornamentalappearance of the block. These metal strips may be of rolled, cast orextruded metal and formed of aluminum, bronze, iron, etc. Each metalstrip comprises a face piece, 21 having the desired cross sectionalcontour and overlapping the adjacent marginal edge portions of the glassplates; said face piece being provided along its opposite edgeswithintumed flanges 28 and. 29 which engage the front faces of the glassplates. Formed integral with the face piece 21 and extendingrearwardly'therefrom is alongitudinally extending leg 30 embeddedwithina mortar insert 3| arranged in a recess 32 in the body portion l6the block. Arranged at opposite sides of the anchoring leg 38 are stripsof cushioning material 32' which engage the adjacent edges ofthe glasssheets or. plates. Other suitable cushioning means may of course beprovided. 1

The metal corner bead or molding 29 comprises a substantially triangularshaped body member 33 disposed between the adjacent, edges of tlieornamental facings l8 and I9 which are carried by the front and endportions I6 and I1 respectively of the body portion as best shown inFig. 3. The outer face of the body member 33 of the comermoldingiscurved transversely to provide a rounded corner, whileextending laterallyfrom the apex of the triangular body member 33 arethe wing portions 34 and 35 disposed behind the ornamental facings l8and I9 respectively and engagin the inner surfaces of the glass facingsheets or plates. The wing portions 34 and 35 are interposed between theornamental facings and body portion of the block andthe frontsurextending lips 31 and 38 which cooperate with the front "surfaces ofthe wing portions 34 and 35 respectively to provide relatively shallowchannels w'ithin which are disposed strips 39 and 48 respectively of asuitable cushioning material, such as asphalt impregnated cork, althoughthey may be of rubber, rubber composition, etc. The strips of cushioningmaterial 39 and 49 engage the adjacent edges of the glass sheets orplates 2|, 22, and 23' of the ornamental facings I8 and I9. It will benoted that the thickness of the cushioning strips 39 and 40 is such thatthey project beyond the lips 31 and'38.of the metal molding so that thesaid lips do not contact the edges of the glass sheets or plates.

Arranged along the top and bottom of each ornamental facing l8 and I9and also along the outer vertical edge thereof are the metal edgeholders 4| for mechanically securing the ornamental facing to the bodyportion. Each metal edge holder 4| comprises a longitudinally'extendingchannel shaped portion 42 which is received between the ornamentalfacing and body portion of the block (Fig. 2). The outer wall 43 of thechannel portion 42 constitutes a shoulder which abuts the rear surfacesof the glass facing These cushioning strips serve to protect the edgesof the glass and act to prevent chipping or spalling of the glass duringthe setting of the'block in place in a wall. As shown in Fig. 2, thecushioning strips 45 terminate inwardly of the outer surfaces of theglass sheets or plates and also that the shoulders 43, flanges 44, andlips 45 of the metal holders define substantially U-shaped channels inwhich the cushioning ceived. l

The inner wall 41 ofchannel portion 42 of each metal edge holder 4|constitutes a shoulder which engages the outer surface of thebodyportion l5; said shoulder projecting slightly beyond the body portionandextending 'at substantially right angles with-respect thereto is arelatively wide, flat load bearing portion 48 disposed opposite the bodyportion of the block. Formed integralwith and constituting acontinuation of the load hearing portion 48 is an inwardly directedflange 49 which is embedded in the body portion |5.

Due to the fact that the load bearing portions 48 of the metal holders4| project beyond the adjacent edges of the ornamental facing, therewill be formed around the edges of the body portion a continuous loadbearing ledge 50 which also projects slightly beyond the edges of saidfacing. Consequently, when the blocks are laid up in courses in a wall,with the load bearing portions 48 of vertically adjacent blocks inengagement with one another, the adjacent ornamental facings will bespaced from each other and in this space is adapted to be inserted asuitable pointing or calking material.

When the blocks are mounted in place in the above manner, the structuralload'of the wall will be supported entirely by the body portions I5 ofthe blocks, with none of the lcad'b'eing placed upon the ornamentalfacings. In other words, the load of one block is transferred directlyto the body portion of the next lower block,'and each block takes thefull strain of the blocks'above it.

strips are reasmsaa Instead of the ornamental facings I8 and I8 beingformed of alternately arranged glass plates and metal strips,s'uch'facings may be made up of strips of glass of different colors asshown in Fig. 4 wherein the glass plates are designated 52,

' and 58. Such an arrangement may be incorstrip herein shown comprises asubstantially rectangular body member 51 from which extend the lateralwing portions 58 and 58 disposed behind the glass face plates 5Iand 52respectively and engaging the rear surfaces thereof. The body member 51is provided along the outer edge thereof with the relatively narrow lips88 and 8I which cooperate with the wing portions 58 and 58 to providerelatively shallow channels within which are received the strips ofcushioning material 52 and 53; said strips engaging the adjacent edgesof the glass face plates. I the wing portions 58 and 58 is arearwardlyex- Formed integral with specifically, the rear section 8| I includes abase member 88 having an upstanding longitudinally extending flange 84at its forward end with which the lower end 85 of the front section 82is rockably associated. The sections 8I and 82 are secured together bythe cooperatingclip members 85 and screws 81 carried bythe front andrear sections respectively. The particular type of metal sashconstruction disclosed forms no part of the present invention per se,but is more fully illustrated, described, and claimed'in the copend- Iing application of C. D. Lowry, flied August 18, 1938, Serial No.225,591.

The metal sash construction I5 rests upon a metal plate as havingitsforward end all turned downwardly and overlapping the upper marginalportion of the ornamental facing of block I4.

The metal plate 88 is supported directly upon the load bearing portion88 of the metal edge holder 88 and is secured thereto by screws 8| whichpass downwardly through the base plate 88 of the rear section 8|;through the metal plate 88 and also through the load bearing portion 88into the body portion of the block. In practice, openings for thefastening screws 8| are first punched in the load bearing portion, 88 ofthe metal holder and Y the screws then threaded downwardly therethrough;said screws being self-tapping screws tending leg 64 embedded in thebody portion I5 of the block. The metal spacer strip terminatesinwardly, of the outer surfaces of the glass face plates and is adaptedto be covered by a suitable pointing or calking compound 85. The forwardface of the metal strip may be formed with a 1on gitudinally extendinggroove 58 to assist in anchoring the pointing material in place.

If desired, the metal edge holders may be of the constructionillustrated in Fig. 7, wherein the channel portion 82 shown in Fig. 2 isomitted. The metal holder in Fig. 7 is designated in its entirety by thenumeral 51 and comprises a flange 88 opposite the edge of the ornamentalfacing and a load bearing portion 88 opposite the cementitious bodyportion I5of the block. The load bearing portion 58 is raised or offsetrelative to the flange 58 as indicated at I8 so that the said loadbearing p rtion projects beyond the said flange 88. Thus, when theblocks are laid one uponthe other, with the load bearing portions 58 ofadjacent blocks in contact with one another, the ornamental facings willbe spaced slightly from one another and will not support any of the loadof the wall. The flange 58 is formed along its outer edge with aninturned lip II for retaining the cushioning strip I2, while the loadbearing portion 58 has formed integral therewith a flange I8 embedded inthe body portion of the block.-

In Fig. 8 is illustrated a block I8 provided by the present inventionand having associated therewith a metal sash or store front constructiondesignated in its entirety by the numeral I5 for supporting a pane ofglass I5. The block 'Il comprises generally a cementitious body portion11 having an ornamental facing I8secured thereto by a layer of mastic I8and also by means of the metal edge holders 88.

Although the metal sash or store front construction I5 may be of anyconventional or preferred type, it has been shown as comprising astationary rear section 8| and a movable front section 82 associatedwith one another for clamping the pane of glass I8 therebetween. Moreand forming the threads in the metal holders to thereby firmly securethe metal sash construction to the block. It will be noted that sincethe load bearing portion 88 of the metal holder extends beyond the edgeof the ornamental facing and also beyond the flange overlying the edgeof said facing, the metal sash construction I5 can be supported directlyupon said load bearing portion without placing any load or strain uponthe ornamental facing.

In Fig. 9 is illustrated a building block 82 of therewith a metal copingmember designated in its entirety by thenumeral 88., The block comprisesa cementitious body portion 84 having an slightly from the ornamentalfacing so that water will drip from the lower edge thereof and will notrun down said facing.

Formed integral with the base portion 81 is a rearwardly and upwardlyextending flange I82,

while formed integral with the leg 88 is a rearwardly extending webportion I83 terminating in an upwardly inclined flange I84 substantiallyparallel with flange I82 andforming therebetween a channel I85. Formedat the junction of the web portion I83 and flange I84 is a leg I88embedded in the cementitious body portion 88 of the block. The numeralI81 represents a sheet of suitable flashing material, preferably ofmetal, and having its outer end portion folded upon itself as at I88 and.inserted within the channel I 85. The free end I88 of said flashing isbent over the top of the flange I82 to provide a neat, water-tightconstruction. If desired, a

the character herein provided having associated and that various changesin the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the a scope of thesubj'oined claims.

between said wing portions and embedded in the cementitious body portionof thebloclr, and cushioning means carried by the body member of saidmetal molding and engaging the adjacent edges of said glass plates. 1

2. In a building block of the character described, a body portion formedof cementitious material, an ornamental facing secured theretocomprising a plurality'of glass plates secured to one surface thereofand disposed in spaced edge to edge relation, a metal molding having abody member arranged between the adjacent edges of the glass plates andterminating within the sunface contour of the ornamental facing; wingportions extending laterally from said body member and disposed inbackof said glass plates and an anchoring portion extending rearwardlyfrom said body portion between said wing portions and embedded in thecementitious body portion of the block, and cushioning means interposedbetween the body member of the metal molding and the edges of said glassplates.

3. In a building block of the character described, a body portion ofcementitious material, an ornamental facing therefor comprising platesof glass disposed in spaced edge to edge relation and secured to saidbody portion, a metal molding member and disposed in back of said glassplates and an anchoring portion extending rearwardly from said wingportions and embedded'in the cementitious body portion of the block,said body member terminating within the surface contour of the omamentabfacing and being provided along the outer edge thereof with oppositelypro- Jecting lips cooperating with said wing portions to providechannels, and cushioningmaterial arranged in said channels and engagingthe adjacent edges of the glass plates.

4. In a building block of the character-described, a body portion ofcementitiousmateriai; an ornamental facing therefor comprising plates ofglass disposed in spaced edge to edge relation and secured to said bodyportion, ametal molding in the form of a spacer-strip of'integralconstruc tion including 'a substantially rectangular body memberarranged between adjacent glass plates;

wing portions extending laterally from said body member and disposedinback of said glass plates and an anchoring portion extendingrearwardlyfrom said wing portions and. embedded in the nels and engagingthe adjacent edges of the glass plates, the body member of the spacerstrip terev minating inwardly of the outer surfaces of :the.

glass plates and having its forward face provided with a longitudinallyextending groove adapted to receive pointing material therein.

ERLETPPUTNAM.

